edited by Jonathan Doyle

Cloverfield [BLU-RAY] (Paramount Home Entertainment, 6.3.2008) Disguised under deliberately goofy, yet deliciously edible-sounding, aliases such as Cheese and Slusho, Matt Reeves' Cloverfield was produced and rushed into theaters under an equally appetizing shroud of secrecy. From last year's incredibly elusive Super Bowl ad to the film's viral marketing campaign, Cloverfield had everybody scratching their heads and drooling in anticipation. Aside from the as-yet untitled title and the Blair Witch-ian visual style, the film's biggest appeal was the enigmatic creature who was last (un)seen hurling the decapitated head of the Statue of Liberty onto the crowded streets of New York City. All we knew about the mysterious beast was that it was big and angry. Now that the highy-anticipated project has come and gone, one question has fortunately been answered: Cloverfield was a major success. (continued)

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I don't know if portions of the Cannes Film Festival slate are being announced on Thursday, 5.17, or if just an official confirmation about Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull playing there is being planned, but some kind of Cannes proclamation, apparently, is being readied for that day. Variety's Anne Thompson and Tatiana Siegel reported a while back that Skull is not being planned as the Cannes opening-nighter, perhaps as a way of avoiding the aggressive missiles that were directed at the DaVinci Code. The plan may be to show it in Cannes on Sunday, 5.18 or thereabouts.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on April 14, 2008 at 4:37 PM

comment #1

Unison says ...

The 17th was the initial date for the reveal of the Competition slate, but it was pushed back to the morning of the 23rd a few weeks ago. Just last week, in response, the programmers for two other fest slates (i.e. Un Certain Regard, Directors' Fortnight) similarly announced that they would delay their lineup announcements as well, to the 24th & 25th.

So, if there's still an announcement on the 17th, it probably won't be the full slate lineup, as that has been delayed.

Indiana Jones is all but a sure thing at this point, as is Kung-Fu Panda, for what that's worth. Why those would be the films you want to go to Cannes to see is beyond me, though.

Posted by Unison at April 14, 2008 5:15 PM

comment #2

62Lincoln says ...

Gruver, I'm sure you meant 4.17.

Posted by 62Lincoln at April 14, 2008 5:15 PM

comment #3

D.Z. says ...

So, Jeff, are you gonna talk about the Time Warner Massacre?

Posted by D.Z. at April 14, 2008 11:09 PM

comment #4

Craptastic says ...

The thing that's starting to worry me is that Indy is not being advertised as one would think given the obvious weight of the film.

We're almost a month away from this and we've seen little to nothing about it aside from a few photos and a chopped-together trailer.

I'll be there on opening day because I'm a man of 33 and a huge fan.... but will those ten years younger than I be there?

I was grossly against Wells when he stated that this film would not do well (actually, his point was more about Ford's age and such as we all know).... but the fact there have been zero commercials up, one billboard in L.A., and almost no internet ads... I just pray to the film gods that Lucas is not thinking this has "Star Wars" power.

Meaning, pop a teaser trailer out to the masses, a bunch of internet geek blogging about it and alll will be well. Indy was always Star Wars' younger brother in the nerd world.... where we al loved it to death but knew the older brother would always win the all-state awards.

Basically, as a fan of the series and of everyone involved, I want this film to succeed and I want it to be 'Indy trilogy' good... I just hope 'the powers that be' see that there's a new generation who might not know who Indy is and has the intelligence to show them how important he is through publicity.

End of venting.

Posted by Craptastic at April 15, 2008 1:02 AM

comment #5

fielding says ...

The opening film will probably be Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Posted by fielding at April 15, 2008 1:41 AM

comment #6

MathewM says ...

I think the hype machine is there. It's just that Indy isnt the same marketing cash cow that Star Wars is. Honestly I think it's going to gross around $225 million-- it will open big, decent second weekend but then sputter. Crystal Skull seems to be more of a reunion hobbiest project for those involved rather than a "necessary" film.

Posted by MathewM at April 15, 2008 5:25 AM

comment #7

Rich S. says ...

Lucas is just about falling over backwards to moderate expectations for this film. The nasty criticism of Star Wars Eps. 1-3 must have gotten to him somehow. (As an aside, I caught part of Phantom Menace on Spike last weekend. First time I've seen it since it first hit home video. Egads, it was even more atrocious than I remembered.) Spielberg has been almost wholly silent, as far as I can tell.

Posted by Rich S. at April 15, 2008 6:47 AM

comment #8